Nadal Needs 5 But Sets Djokovic QF, Alcaraz Streak At 13; Medvedev, Tsitsipas Mon.

For just the third time in his historic French Open history, Rafael Nadal had to go the distance. Today, Felx Auger Aliassime pushed the 13-time champion to five sets in a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 fourth round affair.

Nadal’s game went awry shortly after the start of the match. With Toni Nadal watching from the front row along the baseline, conflicted on if to support Rafa of Auger Aliassime who he now coaches, the Canadian stormed out ahead 5-1 in the first eventually taking the set.

But Nadal rallied two take a 2-1 set lead. With the result now set, the 21-year-old Auger Aliassime snuck out a break and hung on to force a decider, just the third Nadal has been in after John Isner in 2011 and Novak Djokovic.

In the fifth, Nadal tightened his game just at the right time because Auger-Aliassime also raised his level.

“I didn’t start the match well. I had a lot of opportunities in the first set but I couldn’t convert one, so it was a tough first set for me,” Nadal said. “After coming back the next two sets, I think I finished the third playing much better.

“The beginning of the fourth was very tough. The first game was 0/30 and then 40/0 and I lost those two games. Then it is difficult. He has a huge serve and I was not able to push him back. I am very happy with how I adapted at the end. I was able to play more aggressive and go more often to the net and it made a difference without a doubt.”

While Nadal needed 4.5 hours, his rival Novak Djokovic rolled into his 13th straight French Open quarterfinal dominating Diego Schwartzman 6-1, 6-3, 6-3.

“I have a lot of respect for him. He is a very good person, on and off the court, and he is a specialist on clay, so it was not easy with the conditions we have today, with low rebounds on the court, but I think I have done well,” Djokovic said of the Argentine.

“I managed to serve well at the right moment. I am satisfied. I congratulate him on a good tournament and I wish him the best for the rest of the season.

“It never ends. Of course you’re satisfied during the tournament but there’s work to be done.”

Djokovic and Nadal will meet for a 59th time Tuesday, and 18th time in a Slam and 10th at the French Open. Djokovic leads 30-28 winning their last meeting at the French a year ago.

“We know each other well,” Nadal said. “We have a lot of history together. He came here after winning in Rome. For me, it was not an ideal situation to arrive here. But here we are. We are at Roland Garros, it is my favourite place without a doubt. The only thing I can tell you, I am going to be focused and try my best. The only thing I can guarantee is that I am going to fight until the end.”

Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz kept up with the two legends. Zverev blew an early break and saved multiple set points in the first but got through a tougher-than-expected qualifier Bernabe Zapata Miralles 7-6(11), 7-5, 6-3.

“He was driving me nuts, to be honest,” said Zverev. “He’s one of the fastest guys on Tour, I could barely hit a winner against him. We played three sets but we played close to three hours. He’s playing incredible tennis, so if he continues playing like this I don’t see why his ranking is not going to go up even more.”

Alcaraz cruised early before Karen Khachanov put up fight at the end but it wasn’t enough as the teen advanced 6-1, 6-4, 6-4. Alcaraz has now won his last 13 matches and now gets another date with the man his beat in the Madrid final, Zverev.

Tomorrow, the last four quarterfinalists will be determined.

Hard-luck 2021 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas takes on teen Holger Rune. Daniil Medvedev meets fellow US Open champion Marin Cilic.

Former quarterfinalist Jannik Sinner and Andrey Rublev clash and Casper Ruud collides with Hubert Hurkacz.

MONDAY FRENCH OPEN SCHEDULE
Court Philippe CHATRIER – Début à 12h00
1 SD H Veronika KUDERMETOVA (—)[29] contre Madison KEYS (USA)[22]
2 SM H Holger RUNE (DEN) contre Stefanos TSITSIPAS (GRE)[4]
3 SD H Iga SWIATEK (POL)[1] contre Qinwen ZHENG (CHN)

Pas avant 20h45
4 SM H Marin CILIC (CRO)[20] contre Daniil MEDVEDEV (—)[2]

Court Suzanne LENGLEN – Début à 11h00
1 SD H Daria KASATKINA (—)[20] contre Camila GIORGI (ITA)[28]
2 SM H Casper RUUD (NOR)[8] contre Hubert HURKACZ (POL)[12]
3 SD H Jessica PEGULA (USA)[11] contre Irina-Camelia BEGU (ROU)
4 SM H Andrey RUBLEV (—)[7] contre Jannik SINNER (ITA)[11]